LARAMIE – Jay Sawvel understands the dissatisfaction Wyoming's fan base is feeling.
 
The program's passionate supporters sold out War Memorial Stadium for two consecutive games, something that hasn't happened since the 1967 Sugar Bowl season, only to watch the Cowboys lose to Idaho in the home opener and bitter rival BYU last Saturday night.
 
Sawvel noted during his Monday press conference that no one wants to turn this season around as much as the Cowboys (0-3) themselves.
 
"The internal pressure to perform and win is bigger than it's going to be from anybody on the outside," Sawvel said.
 
UW has not played well enough to beat undefeated Big 12 opponents Arizona State and BYU. The Pokes were also their own worst enemy during the head-scratching 17-13 loss to the Vandals, an outstanding FCS program that pushed Big Ten contender Oregon deep into the fourth quarter.
 
The team will try to deliver Sawvel his elusive first win as head coach against North Texas this Saturday at DATCU Stadium (5 p.m., ESPN+).
 
"It's frustrating. Look, I don't like being in the situation that we're in right now," Sawvel said. "Nobody wanted to be 0-3 right now. I didn't want to lose to BYU. I wanted that game more than anybody in the state because I wanted it for the people in the state.
 
"But the fact of the matter was we weren't as good as them and for us to have won that game we were going to have to do things at a higher level than what we did. So, we have to work and get that fixed."
 
The Cowboys are tied for 131^st in scoring offense (11.3 ppg) and are 133^rd in total offense (201.3 ppg) after playing three solid defenses.
 
Evan Svoboda rushed for two touchdowns against BYU but continued to struggle throwing the ball, finishing 14-for-32 passing for 140 yards with an interception.
 
Wide receivers Tyler King and Jaylen Sargent and tight end Clay Nanke combined for 10 catches for 94 yards. All three are new to the spotlight.
 
Sawvel said it's "critical" to get the run game on track after Svoboda was UW's leading rusher with 32 net yards against the Cougars.
 
The junior quarterback's top two projected weapons, running back Harrison Waylee and tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, have not been able to contribute to offensive coordinator Jay Johnson's new scheme due to injuries.
 
"I feel the frustration because I see the frustration and I have to wear the frustration in the fact that we have to be better offensively, we have to be more productive offensively," Sawvel said. "We have a new system, a new quarterback, and then you're also having players emerge like Clay Nanke and T.K. King and Jaylen Sargent. There's still a finding our way process that we're working through a little bit in that regard."
 
UW's defense also has not played up to its billing under first-year coordinator Aaron Bohl. The unit is currently ranked 117^th in points allowed (33.0 per game) and 99^th in yards allowed (394.0 per game).
 
The Mean Green (2-1) has one of the most productive offenses in the country, averaging 36.0 points (34^th) and 469.0 yards (24^th). However, North Texas' defense has allowed 41.3 points per game (129^th) and 472.0 yards per game (127^th).
 
"I'm sure they're saying this is a time to get right against a team that hasn't been completing very many passes," Sawvel said. "We have a huge challenge defensively against their offense, and then what I think is going to happen is their defense versus our offense is going to be a big telling thing in the game this coming Saturday.
 
"We need to be able to establish some things and we need to be able to create some things and we're going to have to score some points. We're not going down there and shutting out on North Texas. They're good on offense, that's not going to happen."
 
Waylee remains unavailable while recovering from last month's knee surgery. Gyllenborg, who played eight snaps against BYU in his season debut, is expected to be on the field for more plays against North Texas as he recovers from a high ankle sprain.
 
Fullback Caleb Driskill (thumb surgery) and running back Dawaiian McNeely (knee) will be out for a significant period of time. Left tackle Nate Geiger is out for the year, according to Sawvel.
 
Despite the key injuries and painful early season losses, Sawvel said the demeanor in the locker room and approach to practice remain strong.
 
"There is no division, there's no pointing fingers," Sawvel said. "We're all in it, we all know it and we all understand the fact of what we have to do to get better. …
 
"We have to create our own momentum. In order to do that we've got to keep preparing for it and then we've got to make the plays when they're available to us."
 
If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming's culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes. 
 
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